May 2020

A selection of events around Scotland.

There's always something happening somewhere, so make sure you don't miss a thing and check with your hosts

Please be advised that due to the current Covid-19 situation, many events for 2020 will now be cancelled or rescheduled. Please check with individual event organisers.

Aberdeen Links Pro-Am
29 April - 1 May 2020
This 3-day tournament tests golfers on 3 prestigious golf courses: Royal Aberdeen, Trump International Links and Cruden Bay Golf Club.

Spirit of Speyside whisky festival
29 April - 4 May 2020

Kingdom Of Fife Real Ale, Cider & Perry Festival
30 April - 2 May 2020, Glenrothes
This annual festival run by volunteers has been going for over 20 years!

Burnsfringe
May 2020, South Ayrshire
Various events around Ayr throughout May, celebrating the life and works of Robert Burns including the Land o’ Burns 10k and the Land o' Burns Weekender.

Bonfest
1 - 3 May 2020, Kirriemuir, Angus
Three days of live rock in local venues to celebrate the life of Kirriemuir's iconic Bon Scott, including two former members of AC/DC.

Girvan Traditional Folk Festival
1 - 3 May 2020, Ayrshire

Crime & Thriller Festival
1 - 3 May 2020, Cromarty, Highlands
A thrilling & suspenseful weekend book festival with many guests and novellists.

Tradfest
1 - 11 May 2020, Edinburgh
The annual showcase of Traditional Arts and Culture in Scotland’s capital.

Burns Fest
tbc May 2020, Ayr
Free family festival featuring live music, poetry, food and drink.

Scottish Six Days Trials
4 - 9 May 2020
A prestigious international event with motorcycle riders from around the world competing in the 'extreme sport' covering on and off road routes around Fort William & Lochaber.

Ullapool Book Festival
8 - 10 May 2020
An intimate and welcoming literary festival now in its 15th year on the shores of Loch Broom in the Highlands.

Newton Stewart Walking Festival
8 - 14 May 2020
Walking in Galloway, southern Scotland

Highland Whisky Festival
8 - 15 May 2020
This is the second Highland Whisky Festival which showcases distilleries along the North Coast 500 scenic route.

Stirling Whisky Festival
9 May 2020
Friday night ceilidh, whisky tastings and masterclasses.

Perth Beer Festival
9 May 2020, Perth
Comedy night, Perth Beer Festival, Rugby sevens and Gin Bar

Gourock Highland Games
10 May 2020 Inverclyde

Stirling and District Classic Car Club Show
10 May 2020, Bridge of Allan

Helensburgh Beer & Gin Festival
16 May 2020

World Whisky Day
16 May 2020
Events across the globe

Ballater Walking Festival
16 - 22 May 2020
Exploring the natural beauty of the Cairngorms National Park.

Gordon Castle Highland Games and Country Fair
17 May 2020 near Fochabers in Moray
Events all weekend. Vintage Village, music, local food producers, unique crafts and gifts, gun dogs, terrier racing, falconry displays, rare breeds, Clydesdale horses, and racing pigs.

Marie Curie Etape Caledonia
17 May 2020 Pitlochry, Perthshire
The Marie Curie Etape Caledonia is the UK’s leading closed road cycling sportive. The 81-mile course near Pitlochry takes in the spectacular scenery of Highland Perthshire.

Edinburgh International Children’s Festival
20 - 31 May 2020
International theatre and dance for young audiences held in the Scottish capital.

Knockengorroch World Ceilidh
21 - 24 May 2020
World music festival in Dumfries and Galloway

Perth Festival of Arts
21 - 30 May 2020
Annual festival with a line up which includes classical music, opera, drama, rock music, jazz and visual arts.

BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend
22 - 24 May 2020, Dundee
Huge pop concert with Dua Lipa, Harry Styles, Camila Cabello and Calvin Harris plus many more music acts performing at Camperdown Park in Dundee.

Coastword
22 - 24 May 2020, Dunbar, East Lothian
A long weekend with established and emerging authors, poets and musicians.

Islay Festival Of Music And Malt
22 - 30 May 2020
Enjoy traditional music, ceilidhs, whisky tasting and more.

Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival
22 - 31 May 2020
Established as the region’s premier calendar entertainments event since 1979, the Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival is Scotland’s largest rural multi-artform festival with over 100 artists performing.

British Pipe Band Championships
23 May 2020, Paisley

The Edinburgh Whisky Stramash
23 - 24 May 2020, Edinburgh
Entertainment, food and tastings.

Traquair Medieval Fayre
23 - 24 May 2020, Traquair House, Innerleithen, Scottish Borders,
Scotland’s only authentic Medieval Fayre featuring jousting and jesters in the grounds of Scotland’s oldest inhabited house

Edinburgh Marathon Festival
23 - 24 May 2020

Aberdeen's May Festival
24 - 26 May 2019
Free festival of creativity, culture and learning brought to you by the University of Aberdeen.

Crieff & Strathearn Drovers’ Tryst Walking Festival
22 - 25 May 2020, Perthshire
Celebrating the people who made Crieff the cattle-droving crossroads of Scotland in the 1700s. Guided walks for all abilities to enjoy Perthshire's autumn colours and stunning scenery.

Kirkcudbright Half Marathon
23 May 2020, Dumfries & Galloway
Run or walk!

The Glentress Seven
23 May 2020, Scottish Borders
Scotland’s most popular MTB endurance event, set in the Glentress Forest.

Highland Gathering and Atholl Highlanders' Parade
23 - 24 May 2020 at Blair Castle, Perthshire

Montrose Music Festival
tbc May 2020, Angus

Blackford Highland Games
30 May 2020
Near Gleneagles and Auchterarder in Perthshire

Drymen Agricultural Show
30 May 2020, Drymen, Loch Lomond

West Lothian Highland Games
tbc late May 2020

Riverside Festival
tbc end May 2020
Popular music festival at Riverside Museum Glasgow

Angus Glens Walking Festival
28 - 31 May 2020
Spectacular guided walks over 4 days

TweedLove Bike Festival
29 - 31 May 2020, Peebles
Big celebrations for the 10th anniversary of this popular festival with thousands of mountain bike riders. Skills sessions, talks, workshops, ride outs, competitions, music, food and drink.

Gardening Scotland
29 - 31 May 2020
Annual event at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston near Edinburgh. Scotland's National Gardening Show featuring floral displays, gardening experts, arts, crafts and entertainment.